Getting a passport for a newborn

[Auggiedaugie]

Hope someone here can help......

I am expecting a baby in mid-July and would like to take a cruise in November or December. By then, the baby should be 12-16 weeks old.

How do you get a passport for such a young child, since it can take weeks (or longer) to get a birth certificate, and then weeks to get a passport? I know you can expedite a passport, but what about the birth certificate? Or a SS#? It has been almost 7 years since my DD was born and I honestly can not remember when I received these documents, she was almost 6 months when we got her passport, so we had everything we needed.

Thanks in advance.......

 

[helenabear]

You might want to think about the cruise for another time. Depending on who you cruise with, you cannot bring infants along. Most have age requirements of about 6-12 months of age.

No help with the passport, but just something to think about.

 

[Darcy03231]

I think if you check the cruise lines policies you'll find an infant has to be 6-12 months old before they can cruise depending on where the cruise is going and the length of time. Also, in case you didn't know, an infant doesn't cruise for free on most lines. You're usually charged the 3rd person in the room rate.

 

[Auggiedaugie]

Thanks for the info! DCL is 12 weeks (unless it has changed recently), so I know age isn't a problem, but passport is, ugh. I want to get another cruise in before DD turns 7 in February, and really don't want to sail in Jan./Feb.....may have to rethink my options. Thanks again

 

[DrCavin]

Some info you can get from here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

 

[Cindy's Mom]

They changed the passport laws to be effective in June 2009, so a birth cert will suffice.

 

[Julia M]

They changed the passport laws to be effective in June 2009, so a birth cert will suffice.

Can you post a link to this change? I thought it was supposed to be in January 2008

Julia

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I saw it on the news the other day. The gov't can't handle the backload. I'll do a google search and see if I can find something.

ETA: I'm an idiot and don't know how to post links. I googled passports June 2009 and serveral items popped up about extending the deadlines.

 

[Auggiedaugie]

Well, that would be good news!! I got this from the Dept of State site:

JANUARY 31, 2008
U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html#compliant_document

So....anyone have a guess on how long a birth certificate usually takes to arrive? Truly, I can barely remember last week let alone almost 7 years ago

 

[Kathi OD]

this link is to the State Department's webpage with regard to passports and minor children.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

 

[nuke]

My son was born November 18th and we had a ssn # and birth certificate by the end of that year.

 

[Green Tea]

Even if the state dept has changed the mandatory date, the cruise line may still stick with the more stringent requirement. You need to check with the cruise line on documentation requirements.

 

[megan2346]

If you do get a passport remember both parents have to be present in order to apply for the passport or you need legal paper work saying the other parent allows you to get the passport.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Regardless of the State Department policy (which can change fairly quickly) and the cruise line requirements, I would definitely have a passport for ALL family members cruising.

If there were a medical emergency, for example, and you had cruised out of the country, you would be prohibited from flying back into the U.S. without a passport. Very important to have them...